'Budgets start at £10k a month' - inside the Premier League's housing market

With the summer transfer window now open, an insider reveals what top footballers look for in a new home when they move club.

Ed Lucas

As the UK football season draws to a close, attention inevitably shifts to the summer transfer window. This is a frenzied three-month period from June to the end of August for clubs and players looking to do business, but also for the country’s high-end property market.

Behind every new signing is a detailed brief among an inner ring of advisers and agents seeking to accommodate the lifestyle changes that follow a big transfer.

This section of the market typically begins to stir into action about a month or so before the official window opens. Once the rumours start circulating, so do the inquiries.

For those in the business, this period is a behind-the-scenes transfer rush in its own right. We start fielding calls from player representatives who are eyeing a move well in advance of any deals being signed.

In the northwest region, there’s a well-established geography to where players live. As well as the city centre, Manchester United and Manchester City players gravitate towards Knutsford and the “golden triangle” of Prestbury, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, where homes are large, gated and offer maximum privacy.

Historically Liverpool players would favour Formby or Birkdale as they were close to the training ground. However, like the Manchester clubs, they’re increasingly drawn to the prime Cheshire villages and you will now see players from opposing clubs living as neighbours.

Players at London clubs typically look to the home counties. Chelsea pros are attracted to Surrey hotspots including Esher with its great stock of larger homes, Kingswood for golf or Cobham for convenience to the club’s training facility.

Arsenal and Tottenham players favour prime areas in Hertfordshire such as upmarket Hadley Wood and Cuffley, which is a ten-minute drive to the Spurs training ground.

The types of properties footballers look for generally tend to fall into two categories. Professionals on short-term contracts or overseas players new to the UK who often seek high-spec, fully furnished and turnkey rentals where they can simply drop their bags and start training the next morning.

Budgets start from about £10,000 a month, depending on the location, but it’s not just about square footage.

We’ve had clients ask for custom spaces such as a dedicated sneaker room, a computer games den and a second kitchen for their personal chef. At this level, lifestyle is everything and homes are tailored to fit around performance.

But even here, value matters. Just because someone is a household name doesn’t mean they should pay over the odds. We’ve seen landlords try to inflate rents the moment they learn a professional player is interested. That’s where we step in to negotiate and protect our clients.

Interestingly, some tenancy agreements now specifically reference the transfer window, with break clauses aligned to contract terms. We’ve even seen deals where a club pays part of the rent or provides accommodation as part of the signing package.

For players on long-term contracts or those with families looking to put down roots, there are different requirements. Proximity to good schools becomes a key consideration. There’s often one eye on local amenities such as golf, yoga and leisure clubs as well as road accessibility.

In these cases, we’re usually sourcing off-market homes that won’t be listed on property portals or speaking with specialist developers who can accommodate bespoke projects or enhanced security features.

Clubs, agents and families are usually all involved. With short careers and potential for frequent movement, the stakes are high for getting your move right first time.

While discretion is paramount in this business, the market is dotted with examples of high-profile moves. According to Rightmove, the manager Jürgen Klopp’s home was one of last year’s most-viewed listings online after he left Liverpool.

As the summer window kicks into action, so too do the worlds of removal teams, interior designers and buy-side advisers. Today’s players are discreet, savvy and advised by a tight-knit, professional circle.

You won’t see it on Sky Sports News, but the property side of football is just as fast-paced as anything on the pitch.

Link to article - https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/budgets-start-at-10k-a-month-inside-the-premier-leagues-fast-paced-housing-market-6zp9qhw2h